California DAs can now use an app to clear thousands of pot convictions

California authorities need a warrant to probe your digital life

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The state of California passed the "Leno bill" that would keep your private digital info, well, private from law enforcement in June. Now, governor Jerry Brown has signed it into law. The California Electronic Communications Privacy Act, co-authored by senator Mark Leno, will protect the Golden State's residents against warrantless surveillance of their digital data, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Perhaps surprisingly, California's law enforcement officials were among the bill's biggest supporters. The ACLU says that "major" state law enforcement groups pulled opposition of it and that cops were apparently happy to support SB 178 because it's "in the best interest of all citizens of California."

In case you're interested, the Leno bill was cosponsored by the likes of the San Diego Police Officers Association, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice and a bevy of tech giants like Facebook, Google and Microsoft. The Electronic Freedom Foundation says this new warrant-requirement doesn't just protect your emails, texts and geographic location on your gizmos, but for online services that store your data as well. Here's to hoping that other states follow suit.

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